Chapter 877 - 875: I Think Highly of You

Chapter 877: Chapter 875: I Think Highly of You

"Fifth Young Master, thank you for your hospitality. Since matters here are settled, I’ll take my leave," Xu Yang said, walking toward Xuan Ningchen, ready to depart.

Xuan Ningchen wanted to ask Xu Yang to stay, but when the words reached his lips, he didn’t know how to keep him. He wondered what right he had to do so.

"Alright, take care, Mr. Xu. Come visit when you have time."

"I certainly will. There’s no need to see me out, Fifth Young Master."

Xu Yang turned and walked out of the courtyard.

Now that he knew the Grotto Heaven Guards were all fused with Grotto Heaven fragments, he could make some preparations in advance. If he could understand the profound mysteries of the Grotto Heaven fragments and the changes they brought to cultivators, he would have an easier time dealing with them when the time came. Just as Xuan Ningchen had said, a top-tier supreme treasure wouldn’t be won so easily. Even with his current strength, he didn’t dare underestimate the challenge.

Gathering this information wouldn’t be difficult. Heaven’s Edge Tower was the best place for it. Even if the local Heaven’s Edge Tower didn’t have the answers, his status would allow him to retrieve the information from other branches that did.

As he walked down a wooded path, just about to reach the outer estate, an armored cultivator suddenly approached him.

"Mr. Xu, please wait."

Xu Yang paused, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes. "Is there something you need?"

"Mr. Xu, the Commander requests your presence," the armored cultivator replied.

"The Commander?" Xu Yang’s pupils constricted as a fleeting look of shock crossed his face.

The Commander of the Profound Wing Army was at the limit of the Golden Immortal stage. While perhaps not quite on the level of Cang Feng, the Pavilion Master of Heaven’s Edge Pavilion, he was a bona fide Golden Immortal Extreme Realm expert. Why would someone like that suddenly want to see him? Xu Yang couldn’t calm his racing heart. Anyone would find it hard to maintain their composure upon learning that such a powerhouse wanted an audience.

He thought, "Everything that happened in the courtyard just now couldn’t have been hidden from the estate’s experts. The Commander of the Profound Wing Army definitely knows."

Perhaps the Commander had been among those probing auras.

"Please lead the way," Xu Yang said, raising his hand slightly. Refusing was out of the question. A powerhouse of that caliber wouldn’t try to harm him here anyway. Whatever the matter was, he had to meet the man first.

"This way."

Several dozen breaths later.

In the opposite direction of the Fifth Young Master’s residence, surrounded by a grove of trees, stood a small pavilion. Sitting beneath it was a burly, middle-aged cultivator dressed in white. As Xu Yang approached, he noticed the man’s chiseled features. The man’s aura was virtually non-existent, yet he exuded a sharp, chilling presence that triggered an instinctive sense of terror in Xu Yang. It felt as if merely being near this man posed immense danger.

"Xu Yang." The Commander looked up with a smile.

"Greetings, Lord Commander," Xu Yang quickly bowed with respect.

"Hahaha, what happened in the courtyard just now truly took me by surprise. Who could have imagined that the geniuses emerging from the Northern Province in this generation would be so astonishing?

"And that Liou Xueyan is also in Hongtian Prefecture now.

"Although she’s slightly inferior to you, she’s still quite extraordinary."

"Liou Xueyan is also in Hongtian Prefecture?" Xu Yang asked in shock.

"That’s right. That girl Xing invited her, though she hasn’t made many public appearances since arriving," the Commander chuckled.

Xu Yang suddenly realized that when he left Chongshan City last time, he had seen Hong Xiaoxing seeking out Liou Xueyan. He hadn’t expected her to invite Liou Xueyan to Hongtian Prefecture. Still, it wasn’t a big deal. As a guest in Hongtian Prefecture, Liou Xueyan was perfectly safe. As for whether Hong Xiaoxing was scheming for something from Liou Xueyan... there really wasn’t anything worth scheming for.

"May I ask why the Commander summoned me?" Xu Yang probed, putting aside his stray thoughts.

"Sit." The Commander raised a hand.

Xu Yang’s eyes flickered before he obediently sat down across from him. As their eyes met, Xu Yang maintained a smile, neither avoiding his gaze nor showing any subservience or arrogance. His demeanor made the Commander sigh inwardly; if that useless Old Fifth had even a fifth of this boy’s mettle, he would have been proud. What a pity.

"Xing’s coming-of-age ceremony is quite special this time. Although we plan to make it a grand affair, I estimate that none of the top three on the Dragon and Tiger List will attend.

"As for the Wind and Cloud List, not many of them will likely show up either."

Hearing this, Xu Yang frowned slightly, not understanding his point.

The Commander sized Xu Yang up with a half-smile, offering no explanation as he shifted the topic. "There are two main events at the coming-of-age ceremony. The first is Xing wielding the White Tiger Slaughter Map. The White Tiger Slaughter Map possesses immense slaughtering power, and after the Lord of the Prefecture personally smelted and refined it, its might has grown even stronger. Although Xing is only at the Early Stage of Golden Immortal, with the strength she can unleash using this map, I reckon almost no one below fourth place on the Dragon and Tiger List will be able to withstand it."

"It’s that strong?" Xu Yang blurted out instinctively.

Below fourth place on the Dragon and Tiger List... That was truly terrifying. After all, Hong Xiaoxing was only at the Early Stage of Golden Immortal. Her ability to achieve such power was undoubtedly the result of the Lord of Hongtian Prefecture’s refinement. Moreover, with the judgment of a Golden Immortal Extreme Realm powerhouse, this assessment was likely pretty close to the mark.

He thought, "Wait, why is he telling me all this in such detail?"

"Anyone who can survive one, three, or ten moves from Xing will receive substantial rewards. These include rare treasures and heavenly materials. In particular, anyone who can defeat her will be awarded a set of defensive armor. This armor, known as the Purple Star Armor, is forged from meteorite fragments fallen from the essence of the starry vault. It can defend against attacks from both immortal energy and the Primordial Spirit, and is a High-Grade Tier Three artifact.

"With your strength, if you had such a treasure today, neither Zhou Xiong nor Du Ling would have been able to break through your internal or external defenses."

GASP!

Xu Yang drew a sharp breath, his face filled with shock. How generous. It was truly an extravagant gesture to offer such a treasure as a reward.

He thought, "If I can get my hands on it, it would be an incredible advantage. As for the Black and White Meteor Tower, if I obtain it, I’ll definitely have to leave it in the ancient land above the Spirit Realm. Even if it’s stronger than this armor, I wouldn’t be able to use it.

"But this item protects both the physical body and the Primordial Spirit. A High-Grade Tier Three artifact... With it, I’d have a massive advantage when facing experts like Yv Feng, Ji Wushuang, Di Qinghe, or even the lord of Blood Marsh."

Its value was immeasurable. Even a genius like Yv Feng might not possess such a life-saving treasure.

"As for the second event, it involves the Grotto Heaven Guards and the top-tier supreme treasure. This treasure is called the Black and White Meteor Tower. It contains its own starry void, can pacify spatial turbulence, and stabilize Grotto Heavens. Its defensive capabilities are astounding, far surpassing the Purple Star Armor.

"However, to obtain it, one must simultaneously face nine Tier Three Grotto Heaven Guards. Grotto Heaven Guards are divided into four tiers: Tier One corresponds to the Early Stage of Golden Immortal, Tier Four is the Tier Four Golden Immortal Extreme Realm, which means Tier Three represents the Late Stage of Golden Immortal."

The Commander gave a sly smile. "I can tell you that the combat power of each tier of the Grotto Heaven Guards is scarcely inferior to the geniuses of the same cultivation level on the Dragon and Tiger List."

Xu Yang’s expression changed repeatedly. Nine Tier Three Grotto Heaven Guards. Comparable to geniuses of the same level on the Dragon and Tiger List. This was truly terrifying. The difficulty of obtaining the Black and White Meteor Tower was beyond imagination.

Xu Yang hesitated for a moment before he couldn’t help but ask, "Senior, why are you telling me so many secrets?"

This was simply too bizarre.

"Hahaha, you held it in until now to ask. Not bad," the Commander burst into laughter, filled with praise. Then, narrowing his eyes, he enunciated every word clearly, "Because I have high hopes for you."

"Ah?" Xu Yang froze, a blank look washing over his face. He thought, "High hopes for me?"